The Association for Somali Cats:
A New Club with New Ideas for a New Century

by Ray Benter (Artshow Somalis)

It's SO exciting! The Association for Somali Cats (TASC) is launched
at last! I can't begin to tell the story of how we arrived here,
without exclaiming first what a tremendously fulfilling time (to
say nothing of the hard work) this has been for all of us who followed
a shared vision to form this club! Somali owners and Somali cats
will benefit immediately and far into the future. This is a club
built on many important foundation stones. These include respect,
democracy, equality, fairness, caring, commitment, discernment,
and a lot of other adjectives. You will learn about them in these
pages, or by joining TASC and becoming a part of the ongoing story
of doing the right things for Somali cats and Somali owners, breeders
and exhibitors all over the world.

TASC grew, as many good ideas do, out of friendly conversations
among people dedicated to shared ideas and ideals. In 1998, a congenial
group of Somali fanciers (Somali owners and breeders from all around
the world) were enjoying a wide variety of email exchanges. They
ranged from chit-chat about the antics of Somali cats, to serious
discussions of cat illnesses and even death. This combination of
silly and serious allowed the list members to cross cultural and
national boundaries, and to learn about one another in greater depth
than many face-to-face clubs had allowed in the past. Email, even
with its lack of sight and sound, instantaneously linked us to new
friends around the world. Bonds were formed; nicknames were devised.
"Somalifriends," as Suzan Meijer (Silfescian Somalis) from The Netherlands
called the group, were open and communicative about topics that
were rarely or never discussed in other settings. It was becoming
obvious that the Somalifriends were new and precious international
resources for each other and synergistically for the Somali breed
worldwide. The one thing we lacked was an international Somali club
under whose banner we could move forward to implement our ideas
and ideals.

Once individuals began to see that their shared vision could be
directed to do great good for individual Somalis and the whole breed,
not just locally, but internationally, the idea of a club began
to be mentioned more often. Barb French (Tarantara Somalis) wrote
that she and Marianne Harris (Rampageous Somalis), "...talked about
the idea of a new cat club at length, both at the 1998 CFA International
(when a bunch of us mused about this very topic over beer and Woodchuck
Cider at a wonderful little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant),
and in a long conversation by phone." Private emails were exchanged
all around the list and, like "an idea whose time had come," the
concept of a new international club was in the air everywhere. Roy
Albert (Silkenfire Somalis) volunteered to establish a private list
for those who were interested in discussing a new club.

But how to begin? None of us had formed an online breed club before,
much less an international one. We tried several things; we floated
ideas of how to organize; and we called ourselves TheNewCatClub,
for lack of a better label. Barb French suggested some organizing
principles and methods to begin the task of defining the new club's
structure and substance. Working Groups were founded for:

Incorporation

Constitution/Bylaws

Officers

Membership

Goals and Purposes

Standard of Conduct

Newsletter

Web Site

Preliminary work was accomplished, but working only online proved
to be time-consuming and sometimes difficult. Virtually no one gave
up, however, as the ideas that were being bounced around were inspiringly
fresh and potentially consequential. Methods of voting on issues
were devised. Arguments and counter arguments were discussed. The
Standard of Conduct working group, under the leadership of Nancy
Bailey (Foxbrush Somalis), struggled with ethical questions about
what makes a good Somali owner or breeder. The Goals and Purposes
working group, led by Roy Albert, set about defining what TASC would
try to accomplish for Somali cats and for Somali fanciers. The Constitution/Bylaws
working group tried to flesh out a document that encircled all the
other elements, sometimes guessing at an approximate structure which
was yet to be defined by other groups. Mark Rowe (Gray Castle Somalis)
led this effort with steady determination. Like the proverbial Phoenix
rising from its own ashes, TASC members drew plans for the club
even as it was evolving.

Names were bounced around. Would we be a traditional club? A network?
Did we want to emphasize our online profile or our international
flavor? In the end, The Association FOR Somali Cats was the winner
because we realized that we were actively designing a club where
Somali cats were going to be the center of efforts, the main reason
for existence.

Eventually a temporary board of directors volunteered to work in
smaller groups to shape the club. Hundreds of volunteer hours were
poured into making the TASC Constitution an effective instrument
that reflects the respect we have for each other and the commitment
we share for the welfare of our Somali cats. Although not yet complete,
the TASC Constitution forms the backbone
of the club. Once sections on officers
had been written the club elected members to the Board
of Directors and to the offices of the club.

The first document to be completed and approved was the list of
Goals and Purposes for the
club. Then the Standard of Conduct was completed.
These documents tell a great deal about TASC; they form a recognizable
face for the club. TASC will be guided by its Goals and Purposes
and wants its members to be guided by its Standard of Conduct. If,
when you read these documents, you find yourself nodding your head
in agreement, then you are probably someone who would enjoy belonging
to The Association for Somali Cats. We welcome your Involvement;
spelled with a capital "I" because we really mean Involvement! TASC
members are encouraged to participate for two reasons; 1.) we need
your ideas and hard work, and 2.) Democratic Involvement makes a
better club. To join TASC simply submit the Membership
Form and dues to the club secretary.

As a member, you receive the benefit of knowing that, backed by
the wisdom and power of an organized group of Somalifriends, you
are doing the right things for Somali cats and Somali fanciers worldwide.